Romanian Ruling Party Turns on Justice Minister

Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, whom critics accuse of undermining the country’s anti-corruption effort, has fallen out of favour with the ruling Social Democrats.

Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, who spearheaded last year’s sacking of anti-corruption chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi and Bucharest’s campaign against her appointment as the European Union’s first public prosecutor, now finds his own job on the line from a ruling party perception that he is too meek.

The man behind a number of bills and decrees that critics at home and in the EU say undermine Romania’s fight against endemic corruption has lost the support of a number of key leaders of the ruling Social Democrat Party, who, analysts say, feel he is moving too slowly to overhaul the justice system.

The direct threat to his job comes from an opposition motion of no-confidence in him, filed last week and accusing him of orchestrating legislation undermining the rule of law by strengthening political control over prosecutors.

The Social Democrats have joined the criticism of Toader, a technocrat minister, but for different reasons, with Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea telling reporters on Saturday, “we need to discuss the issue.”

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